Poultry-picker.



T. G. GRIGGS.

POULTRY PICKER.

APPLICATION FILED nov. 14, 190s.

920,566. Patented May 4, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ATTORNEYS Patented May 4, 1909.

T. G. GRIGGS.

POULTBY PICKER.

APPLICATION FILED Nov.14, 190s.

THEODORE GILMAN GRIGGS, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

POULTRY- Specicatioxi of Letters Patent.

PICKER.

Patented May 4, 1909.

Application led November 14, 1908. Serial No. 462,578.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TnEonoRE G. GRIGGs, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of East Orange, in thecounty of Essex and. State of NewJers'ey,' have invented a neA ,g and Improved Poultry-Picker, ofwhichthe? following is a full, clear, and exact descrip'- tion.

This invention relates to poultry pickers, and the object. of theinvention is to produce a device of this class which will operateeffectively to remove the feathers from fowls."

The invention contemplates the use of a plurality of pickers whichengage the feathers of the fowls as they are moved past the pickers bythe mechanism of the device, and these pickers are controlled in part bypneumatic means.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts tobe more fully described hereinafter and particularly set forth in theclaims.

Reference is to be had to theaccompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a poultry picking apparatus constructedaccording to my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan of the picking device; Fig.3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2 throu h thepicking device; Fig. 4 is a longitudina section taken at one of thepickers and illustratin the details of the construction for enab ing thepickers to be pneumatically operated; Fig. 5 is a cross section throughone of the primary pickers; Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section and partialelevation of the secondary pickers, showing the secondary pickers in aneX- tended condition Fig. 7 is a side elevation of one of .the secondarypickers and showing it in a contracted condition; and 'Fig 8 is a crosssection taken through the conveyer belt and illustrating the means forguiding the same.

Referring more particularly to the parts, and especially to Figs. 1 to 3inclusive, 1 represents the frame of the apparatus which comprises aplurality of standards or stanchions 2, said standards being arranged tosupport horizontal beams or girders 3, as shown. At one side of theframe a platform 4 is provided which constitutes a bottom for a case 5of rectangular form, which seats over the bottom, as indicated in Fig.3.. This bottom 4 is provided with a central opening 6, and under thisopening, a guide pulley 7 is provided. Directly over the case asimilarguide pulley 8 is provided, and these guide lpulleys 7 and 8 cooperatewith other guide pulleys 9 and 10 so as to form a guide for an endlessbelt or conveyer 11. The form of these guide pulleys is clearlyillustrated in Fig. 8. Each pulley is of double form presenting twosheaves 12 and 13 which are disposed slightly apart, presenting guideflanges 14 on their remote faces, said sheaves being supported from ltheouter side by the downwardly projecting arms 15 of yokes 16. In this wayopen spaces 17 are formed between the sheaves. The conveyer belt 11 isprovided on its middle line, and at intervals along the length thereof,with hooks 18, and these hooks are adapted to pass into the spaces 17when they are passing the pulleys, as indicated in Fig. 8.

Within the picker'case 5 I provide a picker frame 19 which frame is ofsquare form, as indicated in Fig. 2. The frame is formed of verticalcorner posts 20, to which horizontal cross bars 21 are attached, thecross bars on one pair of opposite sides being arranged intermediatelyof the cross bars on the other opposite pair of sides. In the loWerportion Vof this picker frame, a plurality of primary pickers 22 areprovided. The construction of these pickers .is clearly shown in Fi 4.Each picker presents a tubular piekenv ead 23 provided With a lonitudinal slit 24 eX- tending through the wa thereof,l and adjacent thisslit 24, a comb 25 is provided, which extends longitudinally of theslit, and this comb has teeth which project toward the slit andsubstantially tangentially of the tube, as indicated in Fig. 5. Thistubular picker head 23 is connected by means of a iexible inner tube 26with a tubular spindle 27 which is rotatably mounted in one of the crossbars 21. In addition to this iiexible tube 26 which connects theseparts, I also provide a helical coil 28 of resilient Wire, which iswrapped around the inner end of the tube 23 and is attached to the endof the spindle 27, as shown. By this arrangement it should be understoodthat the picker head .23 normally tends to hold itself in the positionshown in Fig. 4, but it may be pushed to one side by the body of thefowl, and it will still rotate when the body of the spindle rotates,being driven through the coil 28 which constitutes a flexible shaft fordriving the-picker head. The spindle 27 is mounted to rotate in abushing or sleeve 29, which sleeve is enlarged at one end so as to forman air head having 35, and the sleeve at this point is formed with 1 aseat for a packing ring 36 which is adapted to pack the outer end oftheI sleeve, as will be readily understood.

The pickers 22 are mounted only in the lower part of the picker frame.In addition to the pickers of this type, I provide secondary ickers 37in the upper part of the frame. he manner of mountingr these pickers 37in the frame is identical with that just described, but the form of thepicker head is different, as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. The pickerhead is formed of a flexible tube 38 of rubber, li ht leather, orsimilar material, and this tub ar head 38 is driven by a exible shaft39, consisting of a coiled wire, as indicated. The tubular head 38 is ofconstricted diameter and enlarged diameter in an alternate manner, sothat when extended as represented in Fig. 6, it presents a plurality ofhips 40 and waists 41 therebetween. At the hips 40, inner rings 42 areprovided, which maintain a fixed diameter for the hips. At the Waists41, outer rings 43 are provided of smaller diameter whic maintain afixed diameter at this point. The outer end of the tubular head 38 isclosed, and is formed into an integral bill or tip 44. With thisconstruction it should be understood that when air pressure is developedwithin the tubular head 38, the tube will elongate or extend itself, asindicated in Fig. 6, but when a vacuum or partial vacuum is developed onthe interior, the tube will contact in length so as to present the formshown in Fig. 7.

I provide means for alternately producing a pressure and partial vacuumin the icker heads. In this connection it should e understood that thepickers 37 are mounted on the spindles 27 aforesaid in the same manneras the primary pickers, and the pipes 31 which connect with the spindles27 are connected by a main pipe 45, which pipe leads to a valve 46. Fromthis valve 46, branch pipes 47 and 48 lead. The branch 47 connects withan air reservoir 49, While the ipe 48 connects with a suction cylinder50. This reservoir and suction cylinder are of similar construction, andare mounted on the frame, as shown. Adjacent to them, I provide a pump51 having an air compressing cylinder 52 and a suction cylinder 53, saidcylinders heilig provided with pistons 54, to which a cross head 55 isattached, as shown. Frein the branch pipe 47, a blower pipe 56 extendsdownwardly.' This blower pipe is attached in the lower part of the casetoa blower f rame 57 of square form, as indicated in 2. This blowerframe is formed with elbows at the corners thereof, and these elbows areprovided with blower nozzles 58, as indicated. The cross head 55 isconnected by a pitman 59 with a crank disk 60, and this crank disk isrotated continuously by a belt 61 driven from a motor 62 of any suitableform. This motor 62 also drives a crank disk 64 through a belt 63, andthis crank disk is connected by a pitman 65 to a rocker or rocker wheel66. This rocker Wheel is provided with a pin 67 which is connected witha link 68 by means of a slot 69 formed longitudinally in the end of thelink, as shown. The other end of the link 68 is connected to the lever70 of the aforesaid valve 46.

The shaft of the guide pulley 10 is provided with a belt pulley 71, andthis belt pulley 71 is driven by a belt 72 from the motor 62, as shown,the said motor being mounted upon a suitable bracket 73 attached to theframe, as indicated.

I provide means for rotating the picker spindles first in one directionand then in the other, that is, they rotate forwardly and then theyreverse. For this purpose each of the aforesaid pulleys 35 are providedwith two belt urooves 74, and these enable the pulleys all to be.connected by small rope elts or cords 75, as indicated in Fig. 2. Inthe lower part of the case 5, picker shafts 76 and 77 are provided,which are disposed at right angles to eachother and connected togetherby bevel geals 78, as shown. The 'shaft 77 is extended through the sideof the case and is provided with a pulley 79, by means of which it maybe driven from the rocker Wheel 66 by means of a suitable belt or cord80. These shafts 76 and 77 are connected with the pulleys on oppositeside's of the picker frame by means of belts 81 and 82 respectively, asshown in 2 and 3. In view of the fact that the wheel 66 does not rotatecontinuously in one direction, it will be understood that its motionwill operate to rotate the picker first in one direction and then in theother.

On account of the slot 69 and the pin 67, it will be understood that thevalve lever 70 will be moved into one position and allowed to remainthere for a portion of the time, and it will then be moved to anotherposition in which it will rest the remainder of the time'. In one ofthese positions communication is opened from the branch pipe 47 to themain pipe 45; in the other position of the 'valve lever communication isopened from the pipe 48 to the main pipe 45.

The mode of operation of the picker will now be described: The bodies ofthe fowls are hung upon hooks'18 and pass upwardly through the pickercase 5. The picker heads all roj ect inwardly into the s ace surroundedgy lthe picker frame, and rom this s ace thevconveyer belt carries lthefowls, as w1- l be readily understood. As the fowls come in contact withthe pickers 22, the feathers are caught by the combs 25 on the rotatingheads, and these combs grasp the feathers and wrap them arounda thepicker heads 23 when the pickers are rotating in a forward direction. Atthis time the valve 46 is in a position to open communication with thesuction cylin( er 50, which cylinder is connected with the cylinder 53 by a suitable pipe 50a. At this time also a partial vacuum is developedin the picker heads so there is a new draft or air current through theslit 24, which tends to draw the feathers onto the heads. After rotatingin a forward direction for a short time, the )ickers reverse theirdirection of rotation. At all times the pickers are driven through theflexible shaft connections so that they adapt themselves to any ositionthe body of the fowl may be in. As tlie fowls pass the rimary pickers,they come into contact witfi the secondary pickers 37. As these pickersextend themselves under the air ressure which is developed in theickerhea to t e air reservoir 49, the feathers will come against thewaists 41 of the pickers between the hips, and then as the partialvacuum comes on the hips, the hi s catch the feathers between them, asWil be readily understood. In this way the feathers are caught androlled up under' the advancing motion of the picker heads. Afterreversal takes place, the pressure comes on again and the feathers arereleased from the extended hips, as will be readily understood. Thefeathers which are removed from the fowls will be constantly removedbythe nozzles 58 which will blow the feathers out through the upper partof the case.

It should be understood that as the cross head 55 is constantlyreciprocated, it will always maintain a pressure in the reservoir 49through the medium of a pipe 49a which connects it with the air cylinder52. Attention is called to the fact that the pipe 56 is constantlyconnected with the pipe 47, so that air is constantly blown through thenozzles 58.

On account of the endless belt conveyer which I use for feeding thefowls to the pickers, it will be evident that the fowls may pass andrepass the pickers as often as desired.

It should be understood also that the primary picliers 22 are especiallyuseful for removing the heavier outer feathers from the bodies of thefowls, whereas the secondary pickers are especially adapted for removingthe inner or lighter feathers.

Having thus described my invention, I

s 38 when the valve 46 is open picker head, said claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent,

1. In a device of the class described, a picker head of tubularformrhaving a comb on the side thereof adapted to engage the feathers ofthe fowls, means for rotating said icker head having an opening therein,and) means for producing a partial vacuum on the interior of said headto drawfthe feathers into the path of said comb.

2. In a device of the class described, a picker head of tubular form,having a comb on the side thereof adapted to engage the feathers of thefowls, picker head, said head having a slit through the wall thereof,and means for alternately producing a partial vacuum and air pressure onthe interior of said icker head.

3. In a device of t e class described, a picker head having a comb onthe side thereof for engaging the feathers, pneumatic' means for drawingthe feathers into the path of the said comb, a flexible shaft attachedto said head, and means for rotating said icker head on its longitudinalaxis througi'said flexible shaft.

4. In a device of the class described, in combination, a picker frame, atubular spindle rotatably mounted thereon, a tubular picker head, aflexible shaft connecting said tubular picker head with said spindle andpneumatic means in connection with said tubular spindle cooperating withsaid flexible shaft to control the operation of said picker head.

5. In a device of the class described, in combination, a picker frame, asleeve mounted in said frame having an air chamber, a supply pipeconnecting with said air chamber, a tubular spindle-having openingsconnecting with said air chamber, and a picker head carried by saidspindle.

6. In a device of the class described, in combination, a picker frame, asleeve mounted in said frame, having an air chamber, a tube connectedwith said air chamber for conducting air to or from the same, a tubularspindle rotatably mounted within said sleeve and having openingscommunicating with said air chamber, a flexible shaft attached to said sindle, and a picker head actuated by said exible shaft.

7. In a device of the class described, in combination, a picker headconsisting of a tube of flexible material having enlarged hips andcontracted waists between said hips, and means for alternately producingpressure and partial vacuum within said picker head, to alternatelycontract and expand said head.

8. In a device of the class described, in combination, a picker headconsisting of a tube of flexible material having enlarged hips andcontracted waists between said hips, means for alternately producingpressure and partial vacuum within said picker head to alternatelycontract and expand said head, and' means for rotatinfY said pickerhead.

9. In a deviceofntlie class described, in combination, a case, meanscarried thereby for picking feathers from the fowls, a conveyer belt,sheaves guiding said belt and disposed in separated pairs, and hookscarried by said belt near the middle line thereof adapted to receive thefowls and passing between said sheaves, and means for guiding said'beltthrough said case.

10. In a device of the class described, in combination, a case, alurality of tubular picker heads mounted t erein, a pipe conn'ectingwith said picker heads, a two-way valve connected with said pipe, anairreservoir, a vacuum cylinder, a branch pipe connecting said reservoirwith said valve, a branch pipe connecting said vacuum cylinder with saidvalve, means for rotating said pickers, and means holding said valve inone position in which communication is o ened through said first branchpipe to sai first pipe and in the second position in which communicationis o ened from said second branchpipe to said rst pipe, wherebyalternately a pressure and a partial vacuum is developed under saidtubular picker heads.I

11. In a -device of the class described, in

combination, a case, a plurality of tubular 'picker heads rotatablymounted therein, a

rocker wheel, a pipe connected with said tubular picker heads, a two-wayvalve, branch pipes connecting said valve to an air su p1 and to apartial vacuumrespectively, a 1n connecting said valve with said rockerwheel, means for rotating said pickers from said rocker wheel, and meansfor rocking said rocker wheel.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

THODORE GILMAN GRIGGS.

Witnesses:

ED. F. Blusas, SAMUEL A. NEvINs.

